"Big sister."
A small hand shook Hermione's shoulder.
"Big sister!"
"Hmngh..." Hermione groaned, burying her face deeper into the feather pillow. She fluttered her eyes open just enough to see the gray light of dawn creeping through the curtains.
"Wake up, big sister!"
"W—what is it, Esther? Let me sleep..." Hermione grumbled under her breath. She shifted her weight, turning her back to the younger girl and pulling the thick, embroidered quilt over her head.
"But I heard strange sounds from Lord Ulrich's quarters in the night..." Esther muttered, her voice trembling slightly.
Hermione's eyes snapped open.
In an instant, she threw off the quilt and bolted upright, her silver hair messed wildly around her shoulders. She grabbed Esther by the shoulders, shaking the younger girl back and forth in a sudden panic. "W—what were you doing near Ulrich's chambers in the middle of the night?! He didn't do anything weird, did he? Nothing happened, right?!"
